Resilient wheel.



H. LEAP.

RBSILIBNT WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED 11.111.25.- 1912.

Patented July 1,119.13.

2 aligns-SHEET 1.

` H. LEAP.-

RSILIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION HLBD M5525, 1912,

1,066,124. Patented July 1, 1913.

'HARRY LEAP,.OF GHICAGCL ILLINOIS.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

of the y'United States, lresiding at Chicago,

-in details of construction, 'which will be in the countyjof=Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Resilient Wheels, of' which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements inl wheels, and especially wheels that 4are designed for use upon vehicles which are driven by a self-contained motor, in'which `the power is applied direct-ly through an axle against the friction of, the wheel upon theground. l

It comprises a novel arrangement of a hub and rim with intermediate, curved, spring steel spokes, means for connecting said spokes with the hub and the rim, means for varying th'e tension of the spokes to suit the Iload to be carriednupon the wheels, and

more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings., in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the wheel partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross section of same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view fof the spring spoke and tension adjusting polygonal sleeve. Fig. lis a similar view ofthe outer end of the spoke and retaining pin. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe hub portion partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the outside cap plate.

The rim of th wheel may be of any suitablefconstruction. I have here shown it as comprising a clencher or other suitable cir-- cumferential portion adapted to contain a tread which may be .of solid rubber or other suitable tough and elastic material. To this outer portion A is fitted a felly 2 preferably of wood, and to this felly is secured a track of cold rolled steel 3, the object oft' which will be more fully described hereafter. The hub portion of the wheel has fitted toit flanges designed to carry the inner ends of the spo-kes. These flanges consist of fixed disk portions 4- having ca'st or formed with them approximately radial chambers, as at 5, adapted to receive and hold the inner ends of the springs 6. Upon the opposite side isa plate or cap 7, which completes the flan e structure. This cap is slotted at 7a to a mit the spokes. The inner ends of lthese chambers .5 have a segmental curvature vforming pockets 9, and the .springs 6 have .the inner ends bent into a curve, as shown at10, this curve f fitting vwithin the pockets specification ofaeaergratem.

Patented July l, MMS?.

Appncationmed March 1912. serial No. 685,944..

9 and being sufficient to retain the inner ends of the springs in their places. The springs may be introduced from theside, bythe curvature 10 slipping into the pocket 9 and being thus firmly held in place and at the same time allowed torotate to a certain extent. The chambers 5 are inclosed by projecting lugs l1, formed upon one side and extending in such a manner as to form an inelosed space between the disk l and the disk 7, and when the springs have first been entered into the pockets 9, they may be moved in the direction of the circumference of this hub portion, until they are inclosed between the projecting flanges 1l and the opposite side of the pocket thus formed.

When in thisl position .the spring isretained by pins, as at 12, so that it cannot again move outwardly without removing the bolts. By this construction it Will be seen that the edges of the springs are supported against the flanges ll-l and at a sufficient distance from the hub, so that thesprings will have ysufficient rigidity to resist any side thrust which would tend to buckle the wheel or displace the springs. i*

The outer ends ofthe springs are connect- =ed with shoes 13, which' have channels formed in them in the line of the track 3,

yand these shoes fit upon the track and are capable of sliding thereon. The outer ends -of the springs 6' are bent into a circular form similar to that shown at the inner ends, as

-plainly shown at 14. The shoes 13 have in- `wardly.projecting lugs 15, with sockets into which the outer curved ends of the sp1-ings rfit, and they may be introduced at the same time that the inner ends are introduced into :the pockets 9 and are secured by pins 15a.

Then these springs are all in place, the tension upon them is produced by bending the formed by the fiangcs 11 and are secured in this position by the bolts or pins l2. It

will thus be seen that t-hese springs may be lreadily removed by releasing them from springs back until they lie in the chambers If it is desired to increase the tension, it is only necessary to turn this sleeve so that either of the sides which are formed on the greater eccentricity'7 of the sleeve, will be brought into contact' with the contiguous portion of the spring, thus forcing it farther back and increasing its tension. These flat sides form all necessary-locks. A wheel being constructed in this way, power is applied by means of a motor of any suitable description to the hub and the inner portion of the Wheel. The tendency of the power thus applied is to cause the shoes 13 to have a tendency to slide upon the track 3, but the length of these shoes and the frictional adherence caused by the tension of the spokes is suflicient, so that the tractive e'ort 'of the wheel is not materially affected, but the resiliency of these spokes is such that whenever a wheel rolling upon the ground comes in contact with an obstruction, the springs upon that side will momentarily yield, and absorb the shock by sliding downward on the track, while the opposing springs serve.

to return and maintain the wheel rim substantially central'with the hub. Another advantage is that when upon rough going the wheels drop int-o depressions in thc roadway, the instant yielding of the springs acts in a measure as a shock absorber, the wheel following inequalities in thc road surface without materially affecting the position of the hub portion. lt will thus be seen that. the springs may yield to the shock of contact with an obstruction, while the sliding movement upon the rim track will permit the return of the springs to their original position. As the wheel continues to rotate, the successive pressure upon the remaining springs and shoes will 'cause these parts to gradually assume 'their normal relations with each other. ln other words, the rini always has a creeping movementwith relation to the central portion of the wheel, which, without impairing its etliciency, tends to relieve the wheels and the vehicle from theshocks of rough surfaces of the road.

rlhe position of each pin 12 is in advance of a radial line drawn through the corresponding pocket t) and the approximately straight portion of the springs lying within the hub will have a similar position. The curved portions of the springs, between the hub and the shoes 13, will thus be in advance of their attachments to the hubs, and when, in traveling over rough or irregular surfaces, the weight of the vehicle'or load -I 'claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. In a wheel, the combination of an outer rim, and spring spokes connected thereto, of a hub comprising a solid center with Separate radial chambers in its periphery, said hub having spaced side flanges, one of which is radially slotted at points with the slots extending from near the center of the hub through the outer edge of the ange, said hub haring pockets segmental in cresssection formed in the bottom of said chambers at the inner ends of and connecting with said slots, said spring spokes being compressed and having inner ends fashioned to conform to and. slip edgewise into said pockets. a cover plate for the slotted flange. of the hub, and retaining pins eX- tending between said flanges near the pe riphery and engaging the spokes to 1nain tain them in their compressed position.

9. ln a wheel, a hub consisting of a solid center and parallel flanges, one of which has a continuous disk and the other having radiatiing` slots made in it, transverse, substantially radial webs connecting said disks,

trans.'erse` segmental pockets formed in the solid, central portion and in line with the slots, springs having their inner ends formed to fit :aid pockets and curved to lie between the disks, and retaining pins eX- tending between the disks near the periphery, and an outer rim to which the springs are attached.

3. A wheel having an inner hub portion and an outer conct-ntric tread portion.l curved elastic springs between the hub and tread having substantially circular ends, pockets formed in the huh in which the inner circular ends of the spokes are fitted and retained, hub flanges between which the springs may be compressed, and pins maintaining the springs in their compressed position, and eccentric sleeves upon the pins, said sleeves having polygonal faces to rest against the springs.

In 'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY LEAP. Witnesses JOHN l-I. llnnmxo, l". E. llflArNAnD. 

